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wiw 9.6 new life for an older piece - and thoughts on fall.

Anonymous

I can't remember the last time I posted a WIW - last year maybe? Anyways - I was feeling pleased enough with saving a potential give-away piece, that I thought I'd see what it looked like in a photo (aka real-life viewfinder)

I've had this dress - a full button-through - for a couple of years and can count on one hand the number of times I've worn it. Too short when I sit down, the button placket (being a drapey rayon) gaps open when I sit down, thus requiring a slip (UGH) .....which takes away from the whole ease of wearing a dress. Lesson learned: full button-through dresses are not practical . It was destined for the giveaway bin but I thought I'd try it one last time with Angie's pants-under-dress formula - and I like it! I first tried black jeans, but they were too bulky, so these ponte leggings were the solution . I planned to wear this with black leather sneakers, but then wanted a dressier look - hence the workhorse black suede shoes from spring. It's not a perfect outfit - as I felt a little self-conscious about the back of the dress sticking to my butt because of the leggings underneath. Long pendant necklaces are trending again, and I have been wearing this piece from Unode50 a lot lately (I know it's not a pendant, but it has that effect) with it's matching bracelet.

I've attached a hair pic too : my stylist has reshaped the back and done some side disconnecting to let me grow it into the steely-lilac look in the last photo. I may also transition to that colour too . Another reason for loving fall : more makeup!! I know we have to watch it as we age, but I admit to loving eye makeup . Until I'm gently told otherwise, I'm doing it

In terms of moving into fall, I'm getting my capsule rack ready for Sept and Oct ,and I've decided on a olive/navy/wine grouping - with the odd black piece in there too (my best blazers are all black and this is prime blazer weather!) . Nov and Dec will be a move to black, grey, and white (maybe). I didn't shop much at all this summer, and am not looking at anything new right now for fall either. I'm still putting a kid through university and feeling a shift in how I want to be spending my m money. The only thing on my radar right now is a pair of taupey/sandy suede refined low-heel booties. They have to be perfect , or I wont' buy. Fall on the Prairies is glorious, and it's my favourite time of year. Bright blue skies, crispy leaves, fields of canola and sunflowers, cool in the morning and in the evenings - I love it here!

Dress: Rails
Leggings : Hue
Shoes: 424 Fifth Ave
Jewellery: Unode50
Watch: Daniel Wellington

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46 replies

Latest reply was from skylurker

Sal

Veteran

I like this Lisa and it gives me some ideas. I think this is a perfect transitional weather look (we are at that time here - our spring is very frustrating weather wise). I like the idea of shirt dresses but never seem to find one that works on me.

I like the all black look, very flattering and those shoes are great. And keep on with the eye makeup - it suits you well.

chouette22

Veteran

What a great look on you, truly. And those shoes definitely elevate the casualness of the dress over pants combo. This reminds me of a very similar dress I have (it is however not completely buttoned through, which helps keeping things contained, as you have noticed as well) that I purposefully bought for this very combination, but have not thought of yet this fall season. Must bring it into rotation ASAP before it gets too cold for it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

FABULOUS. I just love how you're planning for the season, but keeping things flexible. (Olive, navy and wine sound familiar!)

Great look, Lisa. FUN to salvage an old piece, isn't it. I love how the shoes add texture to the outfit, as does your chunky jewellery which brings out the window pane pattern.

Excited about the new 'do. Looks fun. The grey streaks are a slam dunk with grey wardrobe items.

Anonymous

I love this outfit and you really make me rethink the narrowness of my judgement and how I categorize clothing.

The dress that I would have passed on as too short looks great as a shirt, and the shoes, which on display in the store I would have thought of as too fussy or dainty add detail and just the right amount of pretty.

Anonymous

I really like this a lot on you!!! You look posed and spirited!!!

Sara L.

Veteran

Great outfit! I love your jewelry and those shoes! Fall is better than spring (spring is windy here) but I'm not good at transitional dressing and always have a hard time.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Love love love this outfit...and boy do you have pretty legs!! This dress would look great completely open with a black top underneath too...

such great shoes also!!

DizzyLizzy

Well YUM. I like the outfit and it looks great on you. Would the dress also work open as a topper? It really does suit you.

Marilyn

Veteran

LOVE this, Lisa! I might have said wow out loud when I clicked on the pics. LOL

Love the hair pics too. I'm all natural at the moment....about 40% gray around my face and 20% for the rest. It feels like kind of mess some days and when I see inspiration pics it makes me want to colour it gray and just be done with it. I sooo don't want to go down that road again though. Argh!!

If you come across any good taupe/sand booties please post. They're on my wish list too. I don't care if they're suede but a wearable heel is a must.

Anonymous

Thank you friends! Marilyn- I actually asked my stylist yesterday if I should just colour it grey and be done with it. Let's just say she wasn' feeling it . Ha.

dizzylizzy and dakota cheryl - not sure I'm brave enough to wear the dress open with a top underneath. I'm not trim enough for that kind of a look , and I don't really love flapping things flying around me. If you know what I mean.....

isabel - I'm not terribly creative either and don't repurpose clothes. I usually need to have my hand held in that regard

And thank you all for the compliments on the shoes - I swear they get comments every time I wear them. An unexpected hit for me too.

chouette22 - laughing at "keeping things contained" ...:)

Thank you Angie and Sally - it was fun to post again. Angie - I know you say you come alive in the summer heat; I come alive in the cooler temps of fall. I love getting dressed again !

jill58

Veteran

Wow Lisa, what a great look--I too love your shoes!

Style Fan

Veteran

Gorgeous outfit Lisa. Lovely to see you post again. I love dressing in Fall too. The hair looks amazing.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa, you are NOT alone. Team Autumn predictably won without any effort earlier this week. I like the Autumn too - as long as it isn't too cold and wet.

Dianna

Veteran

Very nice outfit, and I love your make up too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great outfit! Wow. Love it on you. As Angie said, the chunky jewellery works really well with the windowpane pattern. LOVE your hair, too. I might just take both photos (the aspirational and the present pic) to my stylist next time. I'm tired of the regular pixie and want something new.

Those shoes have been the workhorse to end all workhorse footwear. You did really well with them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA - the dress sticking to the bum -- this is one of my pet peeves with this type of look (or tunics, for that matter). Why does this not happen to everyone? Or do some people just have a higher tolerance for it?

Anonymous

Ha , Suz. Well , the dress is meant to be just that , and it wouldn't stick to my larger - than -it -should - be hip area if worn normally . It's cut too straight to not get " stuck " - this is such a weird conversation , lol. Tunics are more a-line and fluid in shape and don't get stuck on my bum. At least I don't think they do ? But I know what you mean - most times this dress-over - pant thing doesn't work for me .

Re the hair - I cannot stick to a plan with mine . My stylist had that photo saved to show me - she figured I'd like it and I do . I'm sick of having such a short pixie back . I like this fuller , rounded and tucked in look.

Column

Veteran

LOVE!!!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Wait, are you thinking of letting your own grey grow in, or actually color it...metallic? Either way I love the cut on you and in the picture. I have also found pants gives new life to dresses that I find too short, too fancy, too whatever on their own. You look fantastic!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I really like this dress over pants look on you! The cut of the dress looks especially great on you with the buttons undone like you have it, very carefree and chic. Your comment on it getting "stuck" and your analysis of the shape of dresses vs. tunics was a total lightbulb for me. This is why I have such a hard time getting that silhouette to work!

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Are you going to do the steely lilac color? It's very cool! The dress over leggings is a great transitional look, too!

Berkeley Girl

This is such a great look! Every element works, and works together. I am not usually a huge fan of the dress over pants style, but this is a super version. And I love all the accessories – the shoes and the jewelry. It all just comes together and appears effortless.

Your hairstyle is super cute on you.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Great to see you again Lisa... I've missed your WIW's. I think this looks fab on you, you've (as always) put together an outfit with great proportions. I'm another one who generally isn't a fan of the dress over pants, but it certainly works here.

Also loving your hair. I'd love to try a cut like this as well, and will probably save this pic to show my stylist too But my hair is so freaking thick, I don't think I could stand to have that much volume on top. Further discussions will be had, for sure.

Gail

Veteran

You nailed it ! I love the look and am envious of your planning capabilities for upcoming months. I think stylists "don't feel it " for the grey as they will be losing some customers lol

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's really complicated, it turns out, to dye hair grey. I wanted to go this route when I was betwixt and between and my stylist strongly advised against. There are a few specialists who can do it but it does involve a complete bleaching and then adding of colour, and it is really hard on the hair. So it's not just a worry about losing business that stops them. Lots of women with grey hair continue to add high or lowlights or pink or lilac, etc. so there is no guarantee of lost business with grey now anyway! Personally, I've enjoyed saving the money and the time, but I'm pretty sure I'll want to change things up at some point with some fun stuff, so hairdressers are wise to hang onto those clients!

I just had my first "mistaken for a senior" moment the other day (due to the grey, I think -- although admittedly I also look pretty stressed these days). I have to admit, it was discouraging and demoralizing. I got quite defensive about it, too, LOL, and said I am NOT a senior. But it turned out this store's policy was "over 50 and you are senior."

FIFTY????? Sheesh!!!

Anyway, I *did* cop to that, and didn't feel quite as shaken by the experience. But still...grey does leave one prey to this and you have to be prepared.

Chris987

Veteran

Lovely outfit and I second the comments about the jewelry working really well with the pattern on the dress. You do pattern mixing so well! I love that " capsule on a rack" concept and may try a variation of it myself

Gail

Veteran

I had a senior moment the other day. I was at a show home taking a look around, the realtor said "well clearly you are an empty nester" LOL.
I didn't realize that it was quite so complicated with grey and color. I have a friend who let her hair go completely grey in her early 40s and it looks fabulous on her. She never did any color.
Also wanted to say Lisa that your makeup always looks good and certainly not too much IMHO.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh, Suz. (((HUGS))). People don't have filters, and stereotype negatively in a badly judgmental way. If it makes you feel any better - in the US healthcare system - you are thought of as old over the age of 40. Hope you have less stressful days very soon.

I have to throw a spanner in the works. I wear button-through dresses and love them. See Finds below. They are more voluminous though, so you can't see my shape under the frock. They don't hook onto my bottom or gape open when I sit because they are roomy and very roomy. I don't have a very curvy figure, but I do have a round bottom, so I understand "the hooking" effect. A-lines are your friend.

Utility Midi Shirtdress

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anchie

Veteran

Love combo of dress over pants on you. I never tried it myself, don't have appropriate dress.

Your hair looks really good in this picture, I would not change a thing :). Does it look from behind like the first picture? I am not sure about the lilac color with your complexion.

I wanted to get pixie cut myself few days ago, and my stylist refused!! She said that I will not like it. will regret it and that it will be all her fault.

I also had a senior moment last winter when I went to cinema in London with my son. I paid for the tickets and was surprised with the low cost, but did not ask anything. Later I checked the tickets and saw that 1 had a student and another senior discount!!

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